WO2018135160A1

WO2018135160A1 - Usb device

Info

Publication number: WO2018135160A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/043556
Authority: WO
Inventors: 横内　保行; 佑弥坂元; 西園　勝; 加藤　康司
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2017-01-19
Filing date: 2017-12-05
Publication date: 2018-07-26
Also published as: JPWO2018135160A1

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) device is a device connected to an apparatus provided with a USB slave interface which operates as a slave of a USB, and is provided with: a USB master interface which is directly connected to the USB slave interface and operates as a master of the USB; a wireless communication interface which performs wireless communication with an information terminal; and a conversion circuit which performs data conversion between the USB master interface and the wireless communication interface.

Description

USB device

The present invention relates to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device. The present invention particularly relates to a USB device that enables wireless communication with a device having a USB interface.

Conventionally, in devices equipped with a USB interface, such as FA (Factory Automation, factory automation) devices that are devices used for automation in factories, various settings can be made to the devices using an information terminal connected to the devices. Or monitor the state of the device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, wireless communication between a portable information terminal and a servo amplifier is made possible by installing a wireless communication interface in a servo amplifier which is an example of a device. This eliminates the need for troublesome cable connections. By wireless communication, various settings can be made from the information terminal to the servo amplifier, and the state of the servo amplifier can be monitored.

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to equip the servo amplifier with a wireless communication interface. The technique of Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to an existing servo amplifier that does not have a wireless communication interface (typically, a servo amplifier that has a USB (Universal Serial Bus, Universal Serial Bus) interface as a communication interface). There is. In other words, for an existing servo amplifier that does not include a wireless communication interface, it is necessary to make a modification to newly incorporate the wireless communication interface or replace the servo amplifier with a wireless communication interface. This requires a great deal of labor or cost.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-11424

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a USB device that enables wireless communication between a device having a USB interface and an information terminal with less labor and cost than in the past.

To achieve the above object, a USB device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a USB device connected to a device having a USB slave interface that operates as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) slave. The USB device is directly connected to the USB slave interface, and operates as a USB master, a wireless communication interface that performs wireless communication with the information terminal, and data conversion between the USB master interface and the wireless communication interface. A conversion circuit.

Here, the USB device has a readout circuit, the device equipped with the USB slave interface has a nonvolatile memory that holds parameters necessary for wireless communication with the information terminal, and the USB device is connected to the USB slave interface. In this case, the readout circuit reads out the parameter from the nonvolatile memory via the USB master interface and the USB slave interface, and the wireless communication interface wirelessly communicates with the information terminal using the parameter read out by the USB master interface. Communication may be performed.

Further, when the USB master interface is connected to the USB slave interface, the USB master interface transmits the address in which the parameter is stored in the nonvolatile memory to the device having the USB slave interface via the USB slave interface. The parameter may be read from the volatile memory.

Also, the USB device may be directly connected to the USB slave interface in the form of a USB dongle.

Further, the wireless communication interface may perform wireless communication with an information terminal connected to the Internet by connecting to the Internet via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router.

Further, the device equipped with the USB interface may be a servo amplifier that drives a motor.

The present invention provides a USB device that enables wireless communication between a device having a USB interface and an information terminal with less labor and cost than in the past.

The figure which shows the usage example of the USB apparatus which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing detailed configurations of a USB device and peripheral devices according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing operations of the USB device and the servo amplifier when the USB device according to the embodiment is connected to the servo amplifier. The figure which shows the example of a connection of the USB apparatus which concerns on the modification of embodiment. The figure which shows the structure which connects the USB apparatus which concerns on embodiment to the internet via a wireless LAN router. The figure which shows the structure in case the information terminal and USB apparatus which concern on embodiment perform wireless communication in infrastructure mode.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept of the present invention are described as optional constituent elements. Also, the drawings are not necessarily shown strictly. In each figure, substantially the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant description is omitted or simplified.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of the USB device 20 according to the embodiment. Here, not only the USB device 20 but also peripheral devices (the information terminal 10, the servo amplifier 30, and the motor 40) related to the USB device 20 are also illustrated.

The information terminal 10 has a wireless communication interface. The information terminal 10 is a terminal for making various settings for the servo amplifier 30 by wireless communication and for monitoring the state of the servo amplifier. The information terminal 10 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

The servo amplifier 30 is an example of a device having a USB slave interface that operates as a USB slave. The servo amplifier 30 is a device that drives the motor 40 in accordance with a command (such as a rotational position or a rotational speed) from the host controller. For example, the servo amplifier 30 supplies power to the motor 40 corresponding to a command from the host controller by servo control using a feedback signal from an encoder of the motor 40.

The motor 40 is an electric motor, for example, a servo motor including a stator, a rotor, and an encoder. The motor 40 feeds back a signal indicating the rotational position to the servo amplifier 30 from an encoder connected to the rotating shaft of the rotor. The motor 40 rotates the rotor according to the electric power supplied from the servo amplifier 30.

The USB device 20 enables wireless communication with a device having a USB interface. Specifically, the USB device 20 operates as a wireless interface of the servo amplifier 30 by being directly connected (inserted here) to a USB slave interface that is provided in the servo amplifier 30 and operates as a USB slave. USB dongle as a USB master device.

Note that the USB master is a “host” that performs control in USB communication. The USB slave is a “device” controlled by USB communication. In USB communication, only the master of the master and the slave can start USB transfer. The USB dongle is a small device having a USB connector. The USB dongle is, for example, a device in which a USB connector is attached to a rectangular parallelepiped having a width of about 1 cm, a length of about 3 cm, and a thickness of about 5 mm.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the USB device 20 and peripheral devices (information terminal 10, servo amplifier 30, and motor 40) according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, “I / F” is an abbreviation for “interface”.

The information terminal 10 includes a wireless communication interface 12 for performing wireless communication with the USB device 20. The wireless communication interface 12 is a communication interface that functions as a master of a wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi, for example.

In FIG. 1, the wireless LAN communication method is an ad hoc mode in which the information terminal 10 and the USB device 20 directly communicate with each other, but the information terminal 10 and the USB device 20 are connected via an access point 80 (see FIG. 6). It may be in the infrastructure mode where and communicate with each other. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when the information terminal 10 and the USB device 20 according to the embodiment perform wireless communication in the infrastructure mode.

Note that the wireless communication interface may be Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The wireless communication interface may be LTE (Long Term Evolution) / 4G / 3G, which is a communication system for mobile phones.

Note that the wireless communication interface may be a specific low power wireless.

The servo amplifier 30 includes a USB slave interface 32 and a nonvolatile memory 34 as components related to connection with the USB device 20. Illustration of other components (control circuit, communication interface, motor drive circuit, etc.) of the servo amplifier 30 is omitted.

The non-volatile memory 34 is a non-volatile memory that holds parameters necessary for the servo amplifier 30 to perform wireless communication with the information terminal 10 via the USB device 20. The parameters stored in the nonvolatile memory 34 are, for example, an SSID (Service Set Identifier), a password for encrypted wireless communication, and the like.

The USB slave interface 32 is a communication interface that operates as a USB slave. The USB slave interface 32 includes a USB connector and a circuit for communicating as a USB slave. The USB slave interface 32 includes, for example, a USB A female connector and a USB slave communication circuit.

The USB device 20 is a USB dongle as a USB master device connected to the USB slave interface 32 included in the servo amplifier 30. The USB device 20 includes a wireless communication interface 22, a conversion circuit 24, a USB master interface 26, and a reading circuit 28.

The USB master interface 26 is directly connected to a USB slave interface 32 provided in the servo amplifier 30. The USB master interface 26 is a communication interface that operates as a USB master (that is, a “host” as a control side). The USB master interface 26 includes a USB connector and a circuit for communicating as a USB master. The USB master interface 26 includes, for example, a USB A male connector and a communication circuit for a USB master.

Here, when the USB device 20 is connected to the USB slave interface 32 included in the servo amplifier 30, the read circuit 28 is connected to the nonvolatile memory 34 included in the servo amplifier 30 via the USB master interface 26 and the USB slave interface 32. It has a function to read parameters from. Specifically, when the USB device 20 is connected to the USB slave interface 32, the read circuit 28 is an address where parameters are stored in the nonvolatile memory 34 via the USB master interface 26 and the USB slave interface 32. Is transmitted to the servo amplifier 30. As a result, the read circuit 28 reads parameters from the nonvolatile memory 34. The read circuit 28 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program, a RAM (Randam Access Memory), a processor for executing the program, a microcomputer (microcomputer) having an input / output port, and the like.

The conversion circuit 24 is a circuit that performs data conversion (that is, bidirectional data conversion) between the USB master interface 26 and the wireless communication interface 22. The conversion circuit 24 includes, for example, a ROM storing a program, a RAM, a processor for executing the program, a microcomputer having an input / output port, and the like. Note that the read circuit 28 and the conversion circuit 24 may be realized by a program using the same microcomputer.

The wireless communication interface 22 is a communication interface that performs wireless communication with the information terminal 10. The wireless communication interface 22 is a communication interface that functions as a wireless LAN slave such as Wi-Fi, for example. Here, the wireless communication interface 22 has a function of performing wireless communication with the information terminal 10 using parameters read from the nonvolatile memory 34 of the servo amplifier 30 by the USB master interface 26. Specifically, the wireless communication interface 22 uses the SSID (Service Set IDentifier) and password read from the nonvolatile memory 34 of the servo amplifier 30 by the USB master interface 26 as a wireless LAN slave, and the information terminal 10. Wireless communication with the wireless communication interface 12.

Next, the operation of the USB device 20 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing operations of the USB device 20 and the servo amplifier 30 when the USB device 20 according to the embodiment is connected to the servo amplifier 30.

First, the USB device 20 is connected to the servo amplifier 30 (step S1). Specifically, the USB connector included in the USB master interface 26 of the USB device 20 is inserted into the USB connector included in the USB slave interface 32 of the servo amplifier 30.

The USB device 20 that has detected the connection requests the servo amplifier 30 to read parameters for wireless communication (such as SSID and password) (step S2). Specifically, the read circuit 28 of the USB device 20 has an address at which parameters are stored in the nonvolatile memory 34 of the servo amplifier 30 with respect to the USB slave interface 32 of the servo amplifier 30 via the USB master interface 26. A read request is made for.

The servo amplifier 30 that has received the read request transmits the wireless communication parameters held therein to the USB device 20 (step S3). Specifically, the USB slave interface 32 of the servo amplifier 30 that has received the read request reads the parameter stored in the designated address of the nonvolatile memory 34 and transmits it to the USB master interface 26 of the USB device 20.

The USB device 20 that has received the parameter writes the received parameter in the register of the wireless communication interface 22 (step S4). Specifically, parameters read from the USB slave interface 32 of the servo amplifier 30 to the USB master interface 26 of the USB device 20 are transferred to a register included in the wireless communication interface 22 via the read circuit 28 and stored. Is done.

The USB device 20 performs wireless communication with the wireless communication interface 12 of the information terminal 10 in accordance with the parameters stored in the internal register (step S5). Specifically, the wireless communication interface 22 of the USB device 20 performs wireless communication with the wireless communication interface 12 of the information terminal 10 as a wireless LAN slave according to parameters stored in an internal register.

Thus, when the information terminal 10 and the servo amplifier 30 are wirelessly connected via the USB device 20, for example, the following communication is performed.

When a motor speed request command is transmitted from the information terminal 10 equipped with dedicated software (such as an application) to monitor the motor speed (such as rpm per unit time), the motor speed request The command is transmitted wirelessly via the wireless communication interface 12 of the information terminal 10 and received by the wireless communication interface 22 of the USB device 20. In the USB device 20, the conversion circuit 24 converts the motor rotation speed request command received by the wireless communication interface 22 into a format that can be transmitted by USB, and passes through the USB master interface 26 to the USB slave interface 32 of the servo amplifier 30. Send. When the servo amplifier 30 that has received the motor rotation speed request command recognizes the received motor rotation speed request command, the servo amplifier 30 transmits the motor rotation speed data based on the signal read from the encoder of the motor 40 via the USB slave interface 32 to the USB device. Reply to 20. In the USB device 20, the conversion circuit 24 converts the motor rotation speed data received via the USB master interface 26 into a wireless format and transmits it via the wireless communication interface 22. The information terminal 10 receives the motor rotation number data via the wireless communication interface 12 and displays it on a screen or the like.

As described above, the USB device 20 according to the present embodiment is a device connected to a device (servo amplifier 30) including the USB slave interface 32 that operates as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) slave. The USB master interface 26 that is directly connected to the USB slave interface 32 and operates as a USB master, the wireless communication interface 22 that performs wireless communication with the information terminal 10, and data between the USB master interface 26 and the wireless communication interface 22 And a conversion circuit 24 that performs conversion.

Accordingly, the USB device 20 includes a USB master interface 26 that operates as a master with respect to the USB slave interface 32 provided in the device, and the USB device 20 converts wireless communication and USB communication. . Therefore, simply connecting the USB device 20 to the USB slave interface 32 of the device enables wireless communication between the device and the information terminal 10 via the USB device 20. In other words, wireless communication can be performed without the effort and cost of remodeling existing equipment that does not have a wireless communication interface and replacing the equipment with a wireless communication interface. Although no interface is provided, wireless communication between the information terminal 10 and an existing device provided with the USB slave interface 32 becomes possible.

As a result, an information terminal can be wirelessly connected to a device that does not have a wireless communication means. Therefore, settings for various adjustments are made from the information terminal, and the device status such as the alarm occurrence status is set for a device installed at a high place where it is difficult to connect by wire or a device that moves at high speed. Can be monitored.

In addition, the USB device 20 has a readout circuit 28. A device corresponding to the servo amplifier 30 provided with the USB slave interface 32 has a nonvolatile memory 34 that holds parameters necessary for wireless communication with the information terminal 10. When the USB device 20 is connected to the USB slave interface 32, the read circuit 28 reads parameters from the nonvolatile memory 34 via the USB master interface 26 and the USB slave interface 32. The wireless communication interface 22 performs wireless communication with the information terminal 10 using the parameters read by the read circuit 28 via the USB master interface 26.

Thereby, the USB master interface 26 provided in the USB device 20 has a function of starting USB communication (as a master). Therefore, just by connecting the USB device 20 to the device, the parameters held in the nonvolatile memory 34 of the device are read by the USB master interface 26 via the USB slave interface 32. The wireless communication interface 22 performs wireless communication with the information terminal 10 using the read parameters. Therefore, even when another USB device 20 is connected to the device, wireless communication between the information terminal 10 and the device using the parameters held in the device becomes possible.

That is, even if the USB device 20 is connected to another device, the USB device 20 can operate as a wireless communication interface unique to the connected device. Therefore, the USB device 20 has high versatility that can operate without depending on parameters held in the device. As a result, it is not necessary to perform wireless setting for the USB device 20, and the USB device 20 connected to the device does not need to be unique. For this reason, even when the USB device 20 is replaced, no special work is required, and the USB device 20 can be easily performed.

In addition, when the USB device 20 is connected to the USB slave interface 32, the read circuit 28 included in the USB device 20 sends the address at which the parameter is stored in the nonvolatile memory 34 via the USB slave interface 32 to the USB device 20. The information is transmitted to a device having the slave interface 32.

Thereby, the read circuit 28 included in the USB device 20 reads the parameters from the nonvolatile memory 34 after designating the address of the nonvolatile memory 34. Therefore, even if a parameter is stored at a specific address in the nonvolatile memory 34 of the device, the parameter is read out to the reading circuit 28 of the USB device 20.

The USB device 20 is directly connected to the USB slave interface 32 in the form of a USB dongle.

When the wireless communication interface 22 is a wireless LAN, it can be connected to the Internet via a wireless LAN router connected to the Internet. Thereby, the wireless communication interface 22 can also perform wireless communication with the information terminal 10 in a remote place.

The USB device 20 is a dongle that is directly connected to the USB slave interface 32 of the device, and is a small device. Therefore, the USB device 20 can be easily attached to a device even in a narrow space where many cables and the like are nearby.

In the embodiment, an example of the servo amplifier 30 has been described as a device to which the USB device 20 is connected. However, the device is not limited to this. For example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Control) that is a host controller that controls the servo amplifier may be a device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a connection example of a USB device according to a modification of the embodiment. In FIG. 4, the USB device is connected to the PLC 50 as a device. Here, a plurality of motors 40a to 40c corresponding to each of the multi-axes, servo amplifiers 30a to 30c for driving each of the motors 40a to 40c, and the servo amplifiers 30a to 30c via EtherCAT (registered trademark) or the like. A multi-axis control system comprising a PLC 50 for sending commands is shown.

USB devices 20a to 20d are connected to the servo amplifiers 30a to 30c and the PLC 50, respectively. The USB devices 20a to 20d are all the same as the USB device 20. When the USB devices 20a to 20d are connected to the respective devices, the USB devices 20a to 20d can perform wireless communication based on parameters unique to the connected devices.

According to the multi-axis control system including the USB devices 20a to 20d, the servo amplifiers 30a to 30c and the PLC 50 are wirelessly connected to the information terminal 10. Therefore, the multi-axis control system uses the information terminal 10 to perform various settings for any of the servo amplifiers 30a to 30c and the PLC 50 constituting the multi-axis control system by wireless communication without connecting a cable. Or monitor the status of the device.

USB devices 20a to 20d can be wirelessly connected regardless of which device is connected. For this reason, even when the USB device is changed or replaced, it is possible to save the trouble of newly performing wireless setting. Since it is not necessary to manage a specific USB device and a specific device in association with each other, the management can be simplified. It is possible to prevent a mistake that the operator of the information terminal changes the setting value of a device different from the device intended by the user and monitors the device state due to a mistake in attaching the USB device.

1 and 4, servo amplifiers and PLCs are shown as devices, but servo amplifiers, industrial devices other than PLCs, controllers, and the like may be used.

As described above, the USB device according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment and the modification. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and the modification. Unless it deviates from the main point of this invention, the various form which those skilled in the art thought is given to embodiment or a modification, or another form constructed | assembled combining the one part component in embodiment and a modification Are also included within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment, the servo amplifier 30 includes a nonvolatile memory 34 that holds parameters for wireless communication. However, the nonvolatile memory 34 is not necessarily provided. This is because when the wireless communication parameters are held in advance in the register of the wireless communication interface 22 of the USB device 20, it is not necessary to store the wireless communication parameters in the servo amplifier 30.

In the embodiment, the USB device 20 includes only the wireless communication interface 22, the conversion circuit 24, the USB master interface 26, and the reading circuit 28. However, the present invention is not limited to such components, and for example, a control circuit composed of a microcomputer or the like may be provided. In that case, the wireless communication interface 22, the conversion circuit 24, and the USB master interface 26 perform the above-described operations under the control of the control circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the USB device according to the embodiment is connected to the Internet via a wireless LAN router. The

wireless LAN routers

60 a and 60 b are connected to the Internet 70. The USB device 20 can connect to the Internet 70 via the wireless LAN router 60a by performing wireless communication with the wireless LAN router 60a. The information terminal 10 can connect to the Internet 70 via the wireless LAN router 60b by performing wireless communication with the wireless LAN router 60b. That is, the wireless communication interface 22 of the USB device 20 is connected to the Internet 70 via the wireless LAN router 60a. Thereby, the wireless communication interface 22 of the USB device 20 performs wireless communication with the information terminal 10 connected to the Internet 70. Accordingly, since the information terminal 10 and the USB device 20 are connected to the Internet 70, for example, a device connected to the USB device 20 in China can be monitored from the information terminal 10 in Japan.

In FIG. 5, the information terminal 10 and the wireless LAN router 60b are wirelessly connected. However, the wired LAN port of the information terminal 10 and the router connected to the Internet may be connected by a wired LAN.

The present invention can be used particularly as a USB device that enables wireless communication with a device having a USB interface with less labor and cost than in the past.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information terminal 12

Wireless communication interface

20, 20a-20d USB apparatus 22 Wireless communication interface 24 Conversion circuit 26 USB master interface 28

Reading circuit

30, 30a-30c Servo amplifier 32 USB slave interface 34 Non-volatile memory 40, 40a-40c Motor 50 PLC
60a, 60b Wireless LAN router 70 Internet 80 Access point

Claims

A USB device connected to a device having a USB slave interface that operates as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) slave,
A USB master interface connected directly to the USB slave interface and operating as a USB master;
A wireless communication interface for performing wireless communication with an information terminal;
A USB device comprising a conversion circuit for performing data conversion between the USB master interface and the wireless communication interface.
The USB device has a readout circuit;
The device having the USB slave interface has a nonvolatile memory that holds parameters necessary for wireless communication with the information terminal,
When the USB device is connected to the USB slave interface, the read circuit reads the parameters from the nonvolatile memory via the USB master interface and the USB slave interface,
The USB device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface performs wireless communication with the information terminal using the parameters read by the USB master interface.
When the USB master interface is connected to the USB slave interface, an address at which the parameter is stored in the nonvolatile memory is sent to the device having the USB slave interface via the USB slave interface. The USB device according to claim 2, wherein the parameter is read from the nonvolatile memory by transmitting the parameter.
The USB device according to claim 1, wherein the USB device is directly connected to the USB slave interface in the form of a USB dongle.
The USB device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface performs wireless communication with the information terminal connected to the Internet by connecting to the Internet via a wireless LAN router.
The USB device according to claim 1, wherein the device including the USB interface is a servo amplifier that drives a motor.